Tadhg Leader: Nobody begrudges GAA players furthering education in US
Tadhg Leader is excited by the "level of talent" unearthed during the 'Ireland's Kicking King' try-outs. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
Tadhg Leader, the organiser of the summer trawl for NFL kicking talent throughout Ireland, is confident of providing a 'life-changing' experience for as many as 15 young athletes.
Ireland's Kicking King was a series of open NFL kicker try-outs which took place at 10 different venues throughout August, including GAA grounds Parnell Park, Thurles, Nowlan Park and Castlebar.
Leader estimated that between 800 and 1,000 male and female athletes, between the ages of 16 and 24, tried out with the aim of becoming the next Charlie Smyth.
Former professional rugby player Leader helped ex-Down goalkeeper Smyth secure a three-year contract with the New Orleans Saints.
As part of Leader's latest exercise, 20 athletes from the try-outs were selected to kick at half time during the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday.
Among those to make the 20 were Tiernan Markey, Louth's reserve goalkeeper for July's All-Ireland semi-final against Mayo, Sam Moloney, Dublin's 2026 O'Byrne Cup goalkeeper and James McCaghy, co-captain for the Dublin minors this year.
Daniel McKernan, a MacRory Cup winner earlier this year, also took part with the Abbey CBS school congratulating both McKernan and past pupil Adam McCann-Gibbs, a punter for the University of North Carolina who led the team out at Lansdowne Road.
The 20 kickers will be whittled down to 10 who will be coached throughout September and October and flown to Chicago where four will ultimately kick in a November 7 half-time exhibition at a Big Ten game in the brand-new Ryan Field. Leader is optimistic about the number of athletes from the nationwide trawl who could go on to secure college scholarships
"I'd say 15-odd could go to college, if they want, to play college football, study in the States, that would be a guess," he said. "It's a pretty big number but I think 10 to 15 would be a good return. And then, like, we've had guys who get picked by us and then they subsequently get picked for their county and they say, 'Hey, I want to play this (GAA), I want to try this first' and we say, 'Off with you, whatever suits you, genuinely'. So there'll be some of those scenarios but I'd say 10 or 15."
The try-outs wrapped up with over 100 participants at the Ballyboden St Enda's club in south Dublin last Friday evening.
"It was a wet ball and lads were back at 56 yards, it was a long way," said Leader. "I think there were eight or nine of them there back battling at that distance. A lot of people over the different venues hit the guts of 60 yarders, which is very long. I'd say we probably saw eight to 10 lads go to 60 yards. And the lad that won in Ballyboden, he would have definitely hit 60 on a dry day. I think the NFL record is 67, 68 yards. And we've already had lads, for their first time, in the 60s. That's why it's going so well, that level of talent."
Galway man Leader estimated that the majority of the contingent at the Ballyboden meet were GAA players. Drilled down a little further, a large percentage of those who attended throughout August were goalkeepers. Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan and Wicklow stopper Mark Jackson came close to landing NFL deals in 2024 while Tyrone's Niall Morgan also displayed interest.
Leader outlined what landing a college scholarship deal would actually look like for any of this year's crop.
"They go to college, so the scholarship is your tuition, housing, food, all of that. We've loads of lads that came to this event (in previous years) now playing in college, and literally will be playing in front of 80,000 to 115,000 shortly, when the season starts. That's why we say it's a life-changing opportunity. Look at Adam McCann-Gibbs, he came to this event last year, and now he's with UNC."
GAA supporters, particularly in Kerry, have grown frustrated at young players being snapped up by Australian Rules teams but Leader explained that he has maintained a good relationship with the Association. Of the 10 venues for the August try-outs, six were GAA grounds.
"I think a big thing is that if lads want to come and kick, they come and find us," said Leader. "It's not like recruiting guys, or chasing guys. That's a huge part of it. And secondly, these guys all go to college, so they're going to get a degree whilst playing elite sport.
"So nobody begrudges a lad furthering his education and doing sport in between, versus...like, I played professional rugby and when you go into professional sports, other sports, and Australia is the obviously example to use, education isn't integral to the journey whereas the good thing about what we're doing is you have to do both.
"The support has been brilliant from all communities because they're proud to see lads from their clubs and communities heading off to America, studying and playing and doing that. I think as long as we keep doing it as we're doing, where lads find us and we're respectful of that process, it will be fine."
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